Everything Boaters Need to Know about VHF Radios, Licensing & MMSI Numbers

October 10th, 2024 by team

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor)

If you ask a long time sailor, they may tell you about the olden days when you had to get a VHF license for your boat before you could talk on your radio. I’m old enough to remember that, but the rules have changed and recreational boaters in U.S. waters. Boats not required to carry a radio do not need a license, even if they install a VHF on board.

But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the question entirely.

Because technology has changed. Now we have Digital Selective Calling, AIS, and other tools where you might need a MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number. And to get your radios installed correctly, that MMSI number may require a radio license of some sort.

Confused yet? Don’t be. We’ll walk you through the basics of the MMSI, including whether you even need one and what type you need and how to get it.

And for our international readers…make sure you check out the rules in your home country, because it’s certain they have a completely different scheme than the U.S..

What is an MMSI?

The Maritime Mobile Service Identity is a globally unique identifier for a maritime service user. It’s a nine-digit number, coded with information about the issuing government and location and the type of service (coast station, vessel, navigation aid, etc.) followed by the unique station identification.

Think of it like a phone number assigned to your vessel.

What’s an MMSI used for?

Since the MMSI is unique to your vessel, it can identify your craft for a variety of digital radio applications. The most common of these are Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and the Automated Identification System (AIS). EPIRB registration will request your ship’s MMSI as well. With these tools, your radio can send and receive detailed information about ships in your area, and make it easier to avoid collisions and find boats in distress, including your own.

DSC is a powerful tool for ship-to-ship communications, and now holds a critical role in emergency calling and rescue operations. Most modern VHF and SSB radios support DSC, and this requires an MMSI to be programmed into the radio memory. This allows you to broadcast a Mayday with the push of a single button, and automatically send your position and boat information to anyone in range.

If you install an AIS transponder on your boat, you will also need to program your MMSI into it. You can receive information about other AIS equipped vessel in range without it. But if you want to broadcast your course, position, speed, size, name, and other information to all ships in your area, you must have an MMSI in your transponder.

When you register an EPIRB rescue beacon with the managing authority, the form has a space for your ship’s MMSI. If your EPIRB is triggered, part of any search and rescue effort will include attempting to contact your vessel on the radio. Attaching the MMSI to the rescue beacon will help searchers find you with AIS (if you use it) and direct DSC calls to your boat.

Types of MMSIs

For boaters in the U.S., there are a few types of MMSIs to choose from, and you must pick carefully if you ever plan to leave the country with your boat.

Recreational U.S. MMSI

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) manages and issues the MMSI, but they have arrangements with BoatUS and SeaTow to issue MMSI numbers to a specific set of boaters. If you meet the following criteria you may get one of these low cost or free MMSI numbers issued:

  • Recreational use only.
  • Are not required to carry a radio or have an FCC Ship’s Station License.
  • Under 65′ long.
  • Will never visit a foreign port or communicate with a foreign port via radio.

If you don’t meet all of those criteria, then you must get your MMSI from the FCC directly.

FCC MMSI (International)

If you plan to leave the U.S. you absolutely must have a Ship’s Station License and an MMSI issued with it by the FCC. If your vessel is USCG documented and you might leave the country some day, it’s best to get your MMSI this way and save the hassle changing down the road.

NOTE: Many radios and AIS transponders only allow the operator to set the MMSI once at installation and not change it again. They can be reset, but you might need to return it to the manufacturer to make the change. That’s the top reason to get the FCC version.

Handheld Radio MMSI

Newer handheld radios with DSC functions need an MMSI programmed to work properly. When they first hit the market, it was unclear how to get that for international use since the MMSI was linked to the ship’s station license. You could program the main ship MMSI into it, but that could be confusing if the handheld was off the boat. It worked (sort of…), but it’s not really the proper or legal way to do it.

The FCC has since added a special class for handheld radios, and they can be licensed independently of the ship’s station license and used on multiple vessels.

Radio Licenses

As we’ve discussed, most recreational boaters in the U.S. don’t need licenses or international MMSI numbers. However, there are a few instances where you may want or need one.

  • If your boat is over 65 feet long
  • Certified to carry more than six passengers for hire.
  • You have a marine SSB and plan to transmit with it.
  • You plan to speak with foreign stations or operate in other countries.

In these cases (and several others), you will need a Ship’s Station License.

The Ship’s Station license will include issuing an MMSI (if needed) and a call sign (also if needed), and allow your radio to be used internationally. If you’re renewing or transferring a Ship’s Station License, you should be able to transfer the MMSI and call sign. The Ship’s Station License is good for ten years.

Besides the Ship’s Station, you’ll need a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RROP) to use your radio internationally. The RROP is attached to the individual operator, and allows operation in all conditions where a Ship’s Station is required. The RROP never expires.

Getting the Licenses

The FCC Universal Licensing System handles all licensing requests, including the Ship’s Station and the RROP. Create a primary account, then you can add the individual licenses you need.

2 Responses to “Everything Boaters Need to Know about VHF Radios, Licensing & MMSI Numbers”

October 13, 2024 at 4:55 pm, Paul said:

As a kayaker, I was looking forward to the HandHeld radio MMSI information. I plan on selling my older Marine VHF radios and getting a Standard Horizon 890 that has DSC.

But when the article got to “Radio License” the information became a bit muddled for me because it was still talking about a ship’s station license.

If I am concerned ONLY with a Marine VHF radio with DSC, do I need an MMSI number for that.

Because I Kayak both in the San Juan Islands and around Vancouver Island, I would, occasionally, be “international”.

Reply

October 16, 2024 at 10:04 pm, B.J. Porter said:

Ooh, that’s a tricky one!

You will need an MMSI for DSC, but one from BoatUS/Seatow will not be appropriate for use in Canada.

I believe it’s the same Form 605, Schedule B you use to get a ship’s station, with these instructions.

“In the special case that you wish to be assigned a new MMSI for your DSC-Capable VHF Handheld Marine Radio, please select P for Portable on Question 4, type of license on FCC Form 605, Schedule B. Please ensure that you add an attachment specifically requesting assignment of a VHF Handheld Formatted MMSI, otherwise the system will automatically assign a standard Vessel Format MMSI to your license.”

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